With the ever-growing pressure mounting on Graham Potter, we’ve taken a look at the top five candidates that could become the next Chelsea manager.
Following Chelsea’s embarrassing 1-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Southampton, Graham Potter is now the bookies’ favourite to become the next Premier League manager to lose their job.
James Ward-Prowse’s stunning free-kick condemned Chelsea to a second consecutive defeat. The Blues have won just two of their last 14 matches in all competitions.
James Ward-Prowse is the best free-kick taker in the world 👑 pic.twitter.com/DhEBGyNRHC
— GOAL (@goal) February 18, 2023
Potter’s side are currently 10th in the Premier League table, and look likely to miss out on European football next season.
As it stands, their Champions League campaign is still alive. To keep it alive, they must overturn a 1-0 deficit against Borussia Dortmund in the second-leg of their last-16 tie to advance to the quarter-finals.
With Potter’s tenure at Stamford Bridge looking to be on borrowed time, we’ve taken a look at the top five candidates to replace him as Chelsea manager.
5. Thomas Tuchel
At 14/1 Thomas Tuchel is the fifth most likely candidate to take over from Potter at Chelsea, according to bookmakers.
Tuchel, of course, was at the helm at Stamford Bridge at the start of this season, but after a reported breakdown in communication with the owners after a loss to Leeds – the decision was made to relieve the German of his duties.
Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup under Tuchel. He clearly knows how to win trophies, but with the sour ending would a return be likely?
Thomas Tuchel record at Chelsea, still can’t believe we let him go.
🏆 UEFA Champions League
🏆 UEFA Super Cup
🏆 FIFA Club World Cup
🥈 2 x FA Cup runner-up
🥈 League Cup runner-up
⚽️ 100 matches, 60 wins. pic.twitter.com/KASr17y8Cq— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) February 13, 2023
Towards the end of his time with Chelsea, Tuchel fell out with several first-team players. Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all amongst the names said to have fallen out with the 49-year-old.
4. Diego Simeone
Bookmakers have Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone as the fourth most likely to take over at Stamford Bridge, at 12/1.
Simeone has been at the helm at Atleti for almost 12 years, and in that time he has cemented himself as one of the best managers in world football.
His Atleti side has pipped Real Madrid and Barcelona to the La Liga title on two occassions since his arrival. They have also won the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de Espana, the Europa League x2, the Super Cup x2, and have been Champions League runners-up twice.
Could we see Simeone’s defensive football style in the Premier League?
3. Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers is currently priced at 9/1 to become the next permanent Chelsea manager, making him the third favourite with bookmakers.
Current Leicester City boss Rodgers has had one of his worst seasons to date this term. His Leicester side are currently in 14th place, just four points clear of the drop zone.
His time at Leicester, overall, can be considered a success however. Rodgers guided the Foxes to the Europa League in 2020, and led the club to their first-ever FA Cup title 2021, defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the final.
Youri Tielemans vs. Chelsea.
The Emirates FA Cup Final, 2021.
Unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/NA4XlbHmTs
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 19, 2021
Rodgers has previous experience with Chelsea as well, having previously managed the club’s reserve side between 2006 and 2008.
Could the Northern Irishman make a return to London?
2. Zinedine Zidane
The bookmakers’ second favourite for the role is former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane – priced at 6/1.
Zidane’s playing accolade’s go without saying, but his management ones are on par – if not better.
Under Zidane’s guidance, Real Madrid won the Champions League x3, La Liga x2, Supercopa de Espana x2, Super Cup x2 and the Club World Cup twice. Quite the list.
He left his role at the Bernabeu in May 2021 after a trophyless season with Los Blancos, and has yet to return to management.
Could being Chelsea boss entice the 1998 Balon d’Or winner back into the management sphere?
1. Mauricio Pochettino
Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino is the bookies’ favourite to take over at Stamford Bridge, priced at 6/5 to become the Blues’ manager.
Pochettino has plenty of Premier League experience, having previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton.
The Argentine led Spurs to their first ever Champions League final in 2019, losing out in Madrid with a 2-0 scoreline against Liverpool.
His most recent management job was with Paris-Saint-Germain. In France he won the Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions.
Pochettino has been linked with vacant Premier League jobs for many years now, but could a role with the Blues bring him back to England?
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